MIES (Switzerland) - You have seen the countdown from #15 to #6 in our pre-season Player Power Rankings, so let's not waste any more time and get straight to the star lineup numbers.
Just a quick disclaimer: this isn't an official player ranking in the Basketball Champions League. I mean, obviously it isn't. We haven't played a game yet, and the MVP Race will be where you can look for that once we have.
However, if you do want to get an idea of who might be leading the running to be MVP at the end of the season, read on, friend, read on.
#5 Gytis Radzevicius (Rytas Vilnius)
If there were a single word to describe the way that Gytis Radzevicius plays for Rytas Vilnius, it would be indispensable. He really is the face of the franchise for Giedrius Zibenas' team.
Radzevicius is a hometown hero who does it all for the team in red and black. He scored 13.3 points in the BCL last season, pulled 7.1 rebounds, and dished out 1.4 assists on his way to an average efficiency score of 17.
He then suited up for his country and delivered 5.4 points and 3.1 rebounds for Lithuania at FIBA EuroBasket this summer.
Rytas are not only the favorites to top Group A, but also a very strong contender to make their first BCL Final Four. If they do make it, it won't be possible without Gytis Radzevicius.
#4 Ricky Rubio (Joventut Badalona)
If I tell you how indecisive I was about where to put Ricky Rubio in this list, that still wouldn’t accurately describe how difficult it was to pick a number.
One thing was for certain, and that was "El Geni del Masnou" absolutely had to be on the list. At his peak, Ricky Rubio is (probably) the best player to ever suit up in the BCL.
I say probably because there have been other candidates, but there is no question that if we see the best version of Rubio in Badalona this season, we are in for a fun ride. And, even though it's only pre-season, it's not looking too bad so far.
We've already seen a 28 efficiency score (in just 15 minutes) against Andorra in the Catalan League and 17 points with 7 assists against Tenerife.
Oh, and Badalona have already beaten Barcelona. They might just be cooking something up there in the north of Spain.
#3 James Palmer Jr (Galatasaray MCT Technic)
With one of the most surprising and impressive moves of the summer, Galatasaray kept James Palmer Jr for this season.
In a way, it shouldn't come as a shock that one of Europe's biggest clubs retained the services of their best player, but the way that Palmer Jr performed last season meant that there was fierce competition for those services this summer.
He put up 14.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists, led Gala to the BCL Final, and also secured a spot in the Star Lineup.
His ability to do it all, on both ends of the floor, undoubtedly makes him one of the BCL's most complete players.
Gala will be aiming to go one better and win the whole thing this season. James Palmer Jr is not a player you can afford to take your eyes off for a second.
#2 Marcelinho Huertas (La Laguna Tenerife)
Can anyone remember a season when Marcelinho Huertas wasn't the MVP and Tenerife didn't reach the Final Four?
The levels of sustained excellence are unparalleled when it comes to Huertas in a black and yellow uniform.
16.0 points and 6.7 assists last season, 16.4 points and 8 assists the season before, and this season Tenerife have added Rokas Giedraitis and Wesley Van Beck to get on the end of those assists.
The GOAT of the BCL has some new friends, so expect a party on the island.
#1 Kendrick Perry (Unicaja)
If Huertas is the GOAT of the BCL and isn't #1 in the Player Power Rankings, then who is!?
Kendrick Perry, that's who.
When you are the most important player on the back-to-back champs of the BCL, and the most dominant team in the history of the competition, then yeah, that's why you are #1 in the Player Power Rankings.
Unicaja also start their second season in a row as the BCL and FIBA Intercontinental Cup champs. Perry had 6.7 points and 5.7 assists as he steered his squad to another trophy in Singapore, whilst also bedding in some new teammates for the road ahead.
Unicaja and Ibon Navarro clearly have some team-building to do after some significant changes to the roster this summer.
Kendrick Perry is likely to not only be the brains of that rebuild process on the floor, but also the engine. As KP says: "The more things change, the more they stay the same..."
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